Hamilton sits due to upper-respiratory ailment

Josh Hamilton didn't play Monday, and the Texas Rangers might be without him again for Tuesday's game against Seattle.

Hamilton, who leads the majors with 20 home runs and 53 RBI, is the most recent Ranger to be dealing with an upper-respiratory infection that is plaguing the clubhouse. Hamilton, who said he felt light-headed as far back as Saturday when he hit a walk-off home run in the 13th inning, was scheduled to start Monday and then again Wednesday. But when manager Ron Washington saw him Monday, he changed the plan.

"Exhausted," Washington said. "He looked bad."

Hamilton missed three starts in early May with back stiffness and was given a day off two weeks ago as Washington tried to keep his entire squad fresh during a 20-game stretch in 20 days.

Playing time is a significant factor in Hamilton's season. He is a free agent after this year, and while there are no questions about his ability, questions remain about his durability. He has played more than 140 games once in his career.

Hamilton has started 44 of the Rangers' first 49 games and appeared in one other. Before earning a 4-2 win over Seattle on Monday, the Rangers had lost three of the first four games Hamilton didn't start this season.

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MLB Team Report - Texas Rangers - NOTES, QUOTES

--RHP Joe Nathan, who picked up his 11th save of the season Monday, has not allowed a hit in his last six outings. The only baserunner he allowed came on an error in the ninth Monday, but that runner was erased shortly thereafter by a double play. Since the start of the second week of the season, Nathan is 9-for-9 in save chances and has a 0.54 ERA.

--LHP Matt Harrison, who allowed a pair of runs in eight innings Monday, appears to have righted himself after a rough five-start stretch. Harrison has won each of his last two outings -- both against Seattle -- allowing three runs in 15 innings while walking two and striking out 11.

--C Mike Napoli, who homered for the second consecutive game, appears to be coming out of a long slump that pushed his batting average as low as .230. Napoli, who homered in five consecutive games in mid-April, has five RBI and four runs over the past two games. He has also continued his strikeout streak. He's struck out at least once in each of his last 12 games and 16 of his last 17.

--RHP Scott Feldman will make his most "normal" start of the season Tuesday after three spot starts. He's gone 19 and nine days between his starts. This time he'll be pitching on just five days of rest. "It should help," said Feldman, who hasn't gone five innings yet in any of his spot starts.

--Angels manager Mike Scioscia announced he won't juggle his rotation after Thursday's off day, setting up Round 2 of Yu Darvish vs. C.J. Wilson on Saturday. The first time around, Wilson gave up four runs in the first inning and didn't return after a 1-hour, 56-minute rain delay. Darvish did return and pitched into the sixth for the win.

BY THE NUMBERS: .750 -- The Rangers' home winning percentage against Seattle since the dawn of Texas' AL West dominance in 2010. The Rangers are 18-6 vs. the Mariners at Rangers Ballpark in that span and have won 13 of the last 15 meetings there.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "He has tremendous stuff. He just has to throw it in the strike zone, and he did that." -- Manager Ron Washington, on LHP Matt Harrison, who won his second consecutive start Monday after a bad five-outing stretch.

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MLB Team Report - Texas Rangers - ROSTER REPORT

MEDICAL WATCH:

--RHP Neftali Feliz (sprained ulnar collateral ligament in right elbow) went on the 15-day disabled list May 21. He will be prohibited from doing any throwing until at least late June before being re-evaluated by team physician Keith Meister. It's unlikely Feliz would return before July.